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Joe Pye Weed

Thu, 02/14/2008 - 15:25 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Eupatorium spp.

Zones:
3-7
Other Names:
Queen of the Meadow, gravel root, kidney root, mist-flower, snakeroot, purple boneset, eupatorium, Sweet Joe-Pye Weed, Hempweed, Joe-Pie, Jopi Weed, Trmpet Weed,

Joe Pye Weed is a Native American perennial member of the family asteraceae found in all parts of the US with the exception of the deep south and the far north.

Propagation:

Joe Pye Weed can be grown from seed, plant six weeks before the last frost and cover lightly so that sunlight can reach the seeds. Keep moist.
Or it can be grown from cuttings.

Joe Pye Weed generally prefers full sun and moist soil. Some varieties such as E. purpureum can tolerate less moisture and part shade conditions.

History and Folklore:

It is said that the plant was named after a Native American healer who used it to treat typhus.

The name Eupatorium comes from the name of King Mithridates Eupator who lived in Parthis from 120 to 63 BCE who is said to have discovered the medical effectiveness of the Eupatorium family, which includes the European native Boneset.

Joe Pye Weed was used by many Native American tribes for healing and magic. It was used as a diuretic, to treat colds and fevers, as a love medicine, as a poultice for wounds, as a wash to strengthen children and for joint pain and the flowers were used as good luck charms.

Harvesting & Storage:

Gather leaves anytime. Dig the root after a frost. Joe Pye Weed dries well.

Household Use:

Joe Pye Weed is suitable for butterfly gardens. It attracts Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Great Spangled Fritillaries, Pearl Crescents, Monarchs, and Tawny-edged Skippers

Magical Attributes:

Joe Pye Weed can be used in spells for love or respect. A leaf can be tucked into your cheek to ensure that words spoken to the opposite sex will be well-received. Gamblers can carry the plant on them to help bring them good luck. Carrying the plant with you will also encourage others to look upon you with respect.

Healing Attributes:

The entire plant can be used, with the root having the strongest effect. It can be made into a diuretic tea to stimulate the bladder and kidneys and to encourage sweating to break a fever. It is also useful for influenza.

Simmer 1 once dried root in 1 pint water for 30 minutes, strain and cool, take 1/2 cup 4-5 times per day
OR
Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp leaves and flowers. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and drink 1-3 times per day.

WARNING: This herb can cause liver and kidney damage and severe intestinal problems if overdosed or used for long periods of time.

Culinary Use:

None

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Joe Pye Weed is supertall, so it makes a great privacy hedge.

Geranium

Mon, 01/07/2008 - 19:44 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Geranium maculatum

Zones:
3-8
Other Names:
Crane's bill, Spotted Geranium, Spotted Cranesbill, Wood Geranium, Spotted Cranesbill, Wild Cranesbill, Crowfoot, Dove's-foot, Old Maid's Nightcap, Shameface, hardy geranium, wild geranium

These beautiful North American natives are among my favorite flowers.

Propagation:

These geraniums transplant well and also grow well from seed. They will grow well in sun if kept moist but prefer shady areas. If you do plant yours in the sun, be aware that they will go dormant during very hot, dry periods, but will often come back when conditions improve. The soil should be rich and humusy, like the woodland floor. If you choose the right spot, your geraniums will grow and spread with little attention from you.

For use as a ground cover, space the plants about 20 inches apart. They will spread.

Flowers bloom for a very long period, but this plant does not rebloom. Therefore, deadheading is not necessary to encourage more blooming, but you may want to do it if you want to discourage spread.

History and Folklore:

The word Geranium comes from the Greek geranos meaning "crane".

The Wild Geranium rhizome is rich in tannini and was used by early American settlers to tan hides.

Harvesting & Storage:

Leaves and roots should both be harvested just before the plant flowers and then dried for later use. Alternatively, the rhizome/root can be harvested in the autumn.

Hang to dry or lay on a screen until firm yet flexible. Seal in a glass jar and store in a cool dry place.

Place small canvas bags over the seed heads (like the little drawstring herb bags) to catch the seeds when they ripen.

Household Use:
Magical Attributes:

A tea of Wild Geranium flowers is an effective counter to many love spells. A bit of the root can be carried as an amuleti to attract happiness and prosperity. It can also be used in spells to encourage conception, successful pregnancy and safe childbirth, especially in sympathetic spells.

Healing Attributes:

Infusions may be made of any part of the plant for the treatment of diarrhea, dyssentery, irritable bowel, cholera, kidney problems, internal bleeding and many other issues that call for the use of an astringent. It is also antiseptic and may be applied externally for issues involving pus, discharge and inflammations. It can be used as a douche or gargle to this affect if called for. The powdered, dried root can be used as a styptic.

Although the entire plant is effective, the rhizome contains the highest concentration of tannini and healing properties.

Culinary Use:
Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Bistort

Sat, 01/05/2008 - 21:46 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Polygonum bistorta, P. bistortoides

Zones:
4-8
Other Names:
Osterick, Oderwort, Snakeweed, Snakeroot, Easter Mangiant, Adderwort, Twice Writhen, Serpentaria, Columbrina, Dracunculus, Serpentary Dragonwort, Patience dock, Red Legs, Easter Giant, Passions, English Serpentary, Dragon’s Scales, Snake,

Bistort P. bistorta is native to many parts of Europe and Western Asia. P. bistortoides, the American native version is very similar.

Propagation:

Bistort prefers a moist, shady area and is great for a woodland or bog garden or it looks nice planted around an ornamental pond. Divide the root stock in early autumn or spring.

History and Folklore:

The name Bistort comes from Latin meaning twice-twisted, referring to the shape of the root.

Harvesting & Storage:

Harvest and dry the rootstock in the spring when the leaves first begin or in autumn. Cut lengthwise to dry in the sun.

Household Use:

Can be used to cure leather, but you need large quantities.

Magical Attributes:

Bistort is considered to be feminine and associated with Saturn and the Earth element.

Bistort is used for psychic powers, especially burned in combination with frankincense. It is also a useful addition to money and fertility sachets, or simply carry it with you if you want to conceive. It can also be added to the holy wateri or smudge mixture that is used during exorcisms. An infusioni of bistort root is said to help chase away spirits of the earthbound dead.

Healing Attributes:

Bistort root has a high concentration of tannini, so it is an astringent. It has been used most commonly as a poultice for boils and festering sores..

It is also styptic and is useful for internal and external bleeding, as well as for diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. Keep the powder on hand to use for external bleeding or mix a half teaspoon into a cupful of warm water for internal bleeding and bowel problems.

A decoction has been used for heavy menstruation and as a gargle for ulcers of the mouth and for bleeding gums. It can also be added to lotions for use on sores with discharge and it can be used as a douche to stanch excess discharge.

The powdered leaves were once used to help expel worms from children.

Culinary Use:

Leaves and young shoots can be used as a vegetable eaten raw or cooked. They have a tangy acidic taste.

The roots are very starchy and can be roasted, baked or boiled with baking and roasting being the tastier of the three options. They can also be dried and pounded, the resulting powder used like flour.

The seeds can also be eaten raw and cooked, but they are very small.

Bistort is an ingredient in Herb Pudding, traditionally eaten during Ostara.

Excessive use of bistort may cause photosensitivity.

Bistort contains oxalic acid which can bind to other minerals impeding their absorption and so should not be ingested in large quantities. People with gout, kidney stones, rheumatism and arthritis should avoid foods containing oxalic acid. Cooking reduces the affect of oxalic acid. Other plants containing oxalic acid are sorrel, rhubarb and spinach.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Amaranth

Sat, 01/05/2008 - 20:54 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Amaranthus spp

Zones:
most
Other Names:
amaranth, cock's comb, kiwicha, lamb's quarters, love lies bleeding, pigweed

Amaranth is a bushy plant that grows two to seven feet tall. Although the seeds are used like grain, they are not related to cereal grains which are members of the grass family.

Propagation:

Amaranth is very easy to grow. It is an annual, so it will have to be replanted, or allowed to self-seed each year. It readily reseeds, however, and unless you're careful you won't have much choice in the matter. It doesn't transplant well and grows best outdoors. It tolerates a variety of soil types, though fertile, well-drained soil is best. It is resistant to heat and drought and has no major disease problems, although it is susceptible to fungus if the soil is kept too moist. It has the ability to bounce back from a wilt when conditions improve.

Just throw down some seeds in the spring, mid-May to early June is best. It works well in crop rotation with corn or soybeans. There are no herbicides listed as safe to use with amaranth, which is just as well, because I like to go organic. At any rate, the wide leaves shade the ground so that few weeds stand a chance in all that shade once the plant gets going.

History and Folklore:

The name Amaranth comes from the word amaranton, which means "unwithering", because the flowers maintain their shape and color when dried.

Amaranth was a staple in the diets of pre-Columbian Aztecs, who believed it had supernatural powers and incorporated it into their religious ceremonies. Before the Spanish conquest in 1519, amaranth was associated with human sacrifice and the Aztec women made a mixture of ground amaranth seed, honey or human blood then shaped this mixture into idols that were eaten ceremoniously. This practice appalled the conquistadors who reasoned that eliminating the amaranth would also eliminate the sacrifices. The grain was forbidden by the Spanish, and consequently fell into obscurity for hundreds of years.

In the Cusco area the flowers are used to treat toothache and fevers and as a food colorant for maize and quinoa. During the carnival festival women dancers often use the red amaranth flower as rouge, painting their cheeks, then dancing while carrying bundles of amaranth on their backs as they would a baby.

In India amaranth is known as "rajeera" (the King's grain) and is popped then used in confections called "laddoos," which are similar to Mexican "alegria."

In Ecuador, the flowers are boiled then the colored boiling water is added to "aquardeinte" rum to create a drink that "purifies the blood," and is also reputed to help regulate the menstrual cycle.

Harvesting & Storage:

You can harvest the seeds as late as the day after the first frost. If the leaves starti to fall off, that's an indication that it's about ready. You can then cover the seed heads with a brown paper bag and shake the seeds loose. Pick off the leaves and use as needed. They are best when they are young and fresh and are usually in good shape late spring through early autumn.

Store away from light in a cool, dry place. Light, heat and moisture will damage the oils in the seeds and cause them to go rancid.

Flower heads can be cut when they bloom and hung upside down to dry.

Household Use:

Amaranth flowers dry well and look good in floral arrangements.

The flowers of red amaranth can be dried, powdered and used as a cosmetic to brighten lips and cheeks.

Magical Attributes:

Amaranth is sacred to the goddess Artemis. It is also sacred to Huitzilopochtli, an Aztec Sun God.

A crown of amaranth flowers worn on the head speeds healing.

To make sure that you are never struck by a bullet, pull up a whole amaranth plant (including roots) preferably on a Friday during the Full Moon. Leave an offering to the plant and then fold it, roots and all, in a piece of white cloth. Wear this against your breast and you'll be 'bullet-proof.' I imagine you'd have to use one of the smaller, ornamental varieties for this.

The dried amaranth flowers have been used to call forth the dead, I don't know the process for this.

Amaranth is used in spells to repair a broken heart.

It is also associated with immortality, and is used to decorate images of gods and goddesses as well as in Pagan funeral ceremonies.

Woven into a wreath, it is said to render the wearer invisible.

Healing Attributes:

Amaranth is a highly-nutritive tonic herb. It should always be cooked before being eaten and it should be grown in a low-nitrogen situation.

Amaranth seeds can be used as a grain substitute for someone who is sensitive to grains or looking for a low-carb option. Because it is highly digestable, it is also good for people recovering from an illness or breaking a fast. It must be mixed with other flours for making yeast breads because it contains no gluten. See more information under "culinary use".

Amaranth seeds have also demonstrated effectiveness in helping to lower cholesterol.

An extract of the flowers can be used externally for sores and ulcers and as a mouth wash for sores in the mouth.

Culinary Use:

Amaranth seeds are packed with protein and fiber though they seem to also contain some chemical that inhibits their absorption. Whatever this chemical is, it is more of a problem with raw seeds than cooked seeds. They can be processed in a variety of ways, including popped, ground into flour, flaked and others. The whole seeds can be added to baked goods for texture, cooked into a cereal, added to soups and stews as a thickening agent and a bit of texture, or roasted and eaten like sunflower seeds.

To cook amaranth seeds as a cereal or side dish, like rice or couscous, combine equal parts water and apple juice or broth (depending on whether you want your amaranth to be sweet or not) to get 2 � cups liquid. Place in a sauce pan with 1 cup amaranth seeds and bring to a gentle boil. Cook about 18-20 minutes until the liquid is dissolved and the seeds are tender. Experiment with different herbs for different flavors for a side dish. For breakfast cereal, add raisins and honey while cooking and serve with milk.

Amaranth flour can be used in making pastas, flatbreads and pancakes. Because it contains no gluten, it must be mixed with other flours for yeast breads, but you can use up to 50% amaranth flour with no negative affects on the performance of the base flour.

In Mexico, popped amaranth is blended with molasses or honey and formed into a bar, much like a granola bar, or Rice Krispy treat. This treat is called "alegria" (happiness). The roasted and milled seed is also used to make a traditional drink called "atole."

Amaranth leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach. They are very high in iron and vitamin C and also contain calcium, protein, phosphorus, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Just steam them lightly. They are especially good sprinkled with sesame seeds or pine nuts.

In Africa and the Carribean, amaranth is a common pot herb and the leaves are picked off as needed.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Amaranth grows as a weed in many gardens. Look for a thick, smooth red-veined stem, arrow-shaped leaves and a bushy flower head. Weed varieties produce green flowers. Cook them up like spinach.

Do not eat amaranth raw in large amounts and do not feed raw amaranth to your pet rats, birds, etc.

Do not eat Amaranth that has been grown in manure and chemically fertilized areas as it stores the nitrates these fertilizers contain in its leaves. Nitrates have been linked to stomach cancer.

Solomon's Seal

Sat, 12/29/2007 - 12:40 — DawnBlack
Botanical Name:

Polygonatum biflorum

Zones:
4-9
Other Names:
American Solomon's Seal, King Solomon's Seal, King Solomon's-seal, Small Solomon's Seal, Lady's Seals. St. Mary's Seal, True Solomon's Seal, Sow's Tits, Sow's Teats, Dropberry, Sealroot, He Shou Wu, Mahmeda, Meda, Sealwort, Yu-zhu

Solomon's Seal is a lovely woodland perennial with native varieties in North America, Asia and Europe. It can grow up to two feet tall.

Propagation:

Solomon's Seal prefers a light soil, a good mulch and a shady location. It can be grown by division or by seed. It will return year after year and spread itself. It is a lovely, delicate addition to a shade garden.

Some areas list Solomon's Seal as an invasive weed.

History and Folklore:

Solomon's Seal is named for King Solomon of Hebrew lore who was granted great wisdom by the Hebrew God and had a special seal that aided him in his magical workings, allowing him to command demons without coming to harm.

According to herbal lore, King Solomon himself placed his seal upon this plant when he recognized its great value. Those with imagination can see the seal on the root stock in the circular scars left by the stem after it dies back.

Solomon's Seal has also been traditional used to "seal" wounds.

You can estimate the plant's age by examining the rhizome. Each year the stem leaves on scar, or "seal" on the rhizome. Counting these will give you an idea of how long your plant has been alive.

Harvesting & Storage:

Although this plant is not currently listed as endangered, the usual warnings about responsible wildcrafting apply. Because this plant is so easy to grow in a shady garden bed, wildcrafting is usually not necessary.

Gather the rhisomes in the fall and lay on a screen to dry in a warm, dry location with good circulation free from humidity and sunlight. Once dry, store in a cool location away from light.

Household Use:
Magical Attributes:

Solomon's Seal aids one in making difficult decisions and accepting and seeking change. Helps in spellwork to aid changing/breaking habits and helps in smooth transitions for changes beyond our control. It is also used in love potions to amplify commitment between partners and to "seal" a spelli or a sacred oath or promise.

An infusioni of Solomon's Seal, or insense made of Solomon's Seal root can both be used to drive away negative vibrations and malicious spirits. It can also be used to summon helpful spirits and elementals.

The root can be carried as an amuleti to ward off malicious spirits and to increase wisdom.

Solomon's Seal is appropriate for use during Autumn Equinox rituals.

Healing Attributes:

The fresh root, pounded and applied topically helps fade bruising. (I have not tried this on a hicky, but it might work for that too.) A decoction can also be used as a facial rinse to help fade blemishes or for poison ivy and similar skin problems.

An infusioni can be used for profuse menstruation and internal bleeding, indigestion and other stomach and digestive complaints including ulcers, bowel problems and hemmorhoids. It is also said to speed the healing of broken bones. Used as a mouthwash, it is said to help strengthen gums.

Solomon's Seal root tea is a good tonic acting on the kidneys, heart and sexual organs as well as soothing the digestive system.

Oil infused with Solomon's Seal root is good to keep on hand for first aid treatment of sprains, strains and broken or bruised bones. (Not to replace, but to enhance traditional medical intervention.) Solomon's Seal root tea or tincture aids in the repair of broken bones and may be drunk after a doctor has set the break. It is also great for torn ligaments, disolcations and other issues with joints.

Culinary Use:

Young shoots harvested in early spring can be prepared and eaten like asparagus.

The roots should be boiled with three changes of water before being roasted and eaten.

Alli parts of the adult plant, especially the berries are poisonous and should not be consumed.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Solomon's Seal seem innocuous, but parts of it are poisonous. Seek out a personal consultating with a skilled herbalist before using internally for food or medicine.

Rosemary

Fri, 12/14/2007 - 22:50 — DawnBlack
Botanical Name:

Rosmarinus officinalis

Zones:
9-10
Other Names:
Polar Plant, Compass-weed, Compass Plant, Rosmarinus coronarium, Incensier

An evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, rosemary has spruce-like leaves which are green on the top and whitish beneath.

Propagation:

Rosemary may be propagated by cuttings taken in early summer from a non-flowering branch.
Alternatively, rosemary can be cultivated from seed.
Choose a sheltered spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Rosemary tolerates clipping well and can be easily pruned into a pleasing shape. If there is ever a danger of freezing, the plant should be brought indoors until the danger has passed.

The leaves can be plucked, or the branches cut at any time. Rosemary likes regular pruning.

Rosemary is a good companion plant for cabbage, beans, sage and carrots. It helps to keep away moths, bean beetles and carrot flies.

History and Folklore:

The word Rosmarinus is from the Latin meaning "dew of the sea".

Christian folklore says that rosemary will grow for 33 years, until it reaches the height Christ was when he died, and then it will grow no more. Apparently, Rosemary's flowers picked up their blue color and acquired their fragrance when Mary spread her blue cloak over a rosemary bush to dry while they were on their way fleeing to Egypt. I seem to remember a similar tale about Aphrodite, but I can't seem to find another reference to it.

Rosemary was used to ward off evil spirits and nightmares. The wood was used to make musical instruments.

Rosemary branches were often woven into wreaths worn by brides at weddings and decorated rosemary branches were presented as gifts to wedding guests. In Wales, it was distributed to funeral guests to throw into the hole as the coffin was lowered.
Rosemary was also given as a gift for New Years', along with an orange, stuck with cloves and it was used with holly and mistletoe to decorate for Yule.

An old saying says "Where Rosemary flourishes, the Woman rules" and in England it was believed that rosemary could not grow in the garden of the home unless the mistress was the master.

In France, Rosemary was burnt, along with Juniper berries in sick rooms and hospitals to purify the air.

During the Middle Ages, it was hung around the neck to protect from the plague. Carrying a twig protected from the evil eye.

Rosemary is believed to attract faerie and good energies. Rosemary in twigs hung over cradles prevented faeries from stealing infants.

A man who is indifferent to the fragrance of rosemary is unable to give true love to a woman and those who smell rosemary frequently will retain their youth.
It was an embalming herb and sacred in Egypt. It was also a sacred herb to the Greeks.

Harvesting & Storage:

Use fresh or hang to dry in bunches still on the branch. Dried rosemary should be added early in the cooking so the flavors can infuse the dish.

Rosemary also makes good oils and vinegars.

Household Use:

Rosemary branches are wonderfully easy to work into wreathes when fresh and hold their fragrance and color well when dry.

Sprigs of Rosemary can be placed in your dresser drawers to protect your clothes from moths.

Magical Attributes:

Rosemary is male in nature and ruled by Leo, the element fire and the Sun (or Moon, depending who you ask)

It's sacred to Hebe and the Virgin Mary.

Rosemary can be used in spells for fidelity and remembrance as well as to dispel jealousy.

Rosemary is useful for rituali baths, and for making sacred herbal water for ritual cleansingi, blessing and purification.

Use rosemary in spells to enhance memory, including those spells for success in school and for remembering past lives. Also use for spells to retain youth.
Place rosemary under your pillow to help you to remember your dreams and to keep away nightmares and unwanted nighttime visitations.

Rosemary may be used in hand fasting ceremonies in a variety of ways.

Burn rosemary and juniper together to aid with healing, and to smudge a sickroom to drive out the negativity associated with disease.

Wear Rosemary oil on those occasions that you want to make a lasting impression.

Healing Attributes:

An infusioni of rosemary makes an excellent hair rinse, gradually covering gray hair, and adding strength and shine to any color hair. It also helps reduce dandruff and stimulate hair growth. Rosemary oil rubbed into the ends of hair will also help reduce split ends.

Rosemary oil massaged into the scalp is believed to prevent baldness and stimulate hair growth.

Massaging the body with rosemary oil will increase circulation, relieve aches and pains and warm the limbs.

Used as a toner, rosemary will help bring blood to the surface of the skin and acts as an antiseptic and astringent.

Cautions

Rosemary should not be taken in large doses. Rosemary should not be used medicinally by pregnant women, but it is okay for them to use it as a food seasoning.

Culinary Use:

Rosemary is excellent with chicken, lamb and vegetables. It is especially good with potatoes. Dried rosemary should be added early in the cooking.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Scientific evidence suggests that rosemary does in fact stimulate the memory centers of the brain. So use a sprig of rosemary as a bookmarker and wear rosemary oil when studying and on test day to help you remember what you need to know.

Give a dear friend a rosemary bush, or a rosemary wreath as a parting gift, as a symbolic promise that you will never forget him, or her.

As a symbol of fidelity, a rosemary bush, or crafts made of rosemary are suitable wedding gifts.

Keep some Rosemary oil on hand to dab behind your ears on those days that you wish to make a lasting impression, such as opening night, a job interview or a hot date. Wear rosemary oil whenever you want to be unforgettable!

Motherwort

Thu, 10/25/2007 - 19:59 — kitchenwitch
Botanical Name:

Leonurus Cardiaca

Zones:
3-8
Other Names:
Lion’s tail, heartwort; Agripaume, Herbe battudo, Agripalma, Melissa, salvatica, Aartgespan, Hartgespan, yi mu cao, yakumos

Motherwort is an interesting and distinctive member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It grows on a single, tall square stem decorated from top to bottom with opposite leaves. The leaf shape varies somewhat by location, but are generally lobed and palmate.

Propagation:

Motherwort is an attractive accent plant that adds interest to the herb garden. It also attracts bees and butterflies. I have never had to plant motherwort myself. It is a volunteer in my yard forming a beautiful natural flower bed along with burdock and pokeweek in the back corner of my yard behind my altar. However, it can be easily grown from seed just like any other mint. If allowed to set seed at the end of the year, it will reseed and return year after year. Take care, as it can be invasive. Cut the stalks before seeds drop to prevent invasion.

Soil should be light, slightly alkaline and well drained. Motherwort likes a sunny spot, but will tolerate some shade and will germinate once temperatures reach 65-75 degrees farenheight.

History and Folklore:

Motherwort was first used by the Greeks to soothe the anxiety of pregnant women. This use continued and spread and gave the herb its common name. The botanical name, Leonurus cardiaca also comes from the greek. Leon=lion, ouros=tail and kardiaca refers to the heart.

Historicallly, the herb has been associated with longevity. An old legend states that there was once a town whose spring ran through a patch of Motherwort. Alli the local townspeople got their daily drinking water from that spring and all of them lived to be over 100 years old. Its association with longevity was widespread throughout Europe and Asia.

Traditional herbals suggest motherwort for "hysterical" conditions and "meloncholy".

In the Victorian language of flowers, motherwort symbolized concealed love.

Harvesting & Storage:

The plants should be harvested while in full bloom. Cut the entire plant at the base of the stalk and hang upside down to dry. Be sure to leave a few stalks to self seed. Once dry, store in an air-tight glass container away from light and heat.

The fresh leaves and flowers can also be preserved as a tincture immediately after harvest.

Household Use:
Magical Attributes:

Motherwort energies promote inner trust and confidence that the ultimate outcome will be best for all involved in the fullness of time. It is also used for counter-magic and associated with immortality and spiritual healing. It is a protective herb, especially in spells designed to protect pregnant women and their unborn children.

Motherwort can be smoked to promote astral projection, but smoking too much can cause reperatory arrest. It is therefore perhaps best used as a smudge or burned as inscense in these cases. It is especially good in combination with mugwort.

Motherwort is associated with Frigga (Freya, Frige, Fricka, Frija) and Ogun
It corresponds to the energy of Leo, Venus, and the element of Water.

Healing Attributes:

Motherwort, as its name implies, is a woman's herb. It has been used in Asia to prevent pregnancy and regulate menstrual cycles. It is used by midwives to help expell the afterbirth, to help get the uterus back into shape after childbirth, to prevent uterine infections and to ease symptoms of post partum stress and depression. Some herbalists recommend drinking motherwort tea during pregnancy, but its other uses indicate that this would probably put the pregnancy at risk of premature termination, so caution is advised. This use of motherwort is only indicated in cases of extreme anxiety during pregnancy when the risk posed by the mother's stress is greater than the risk posed by a cup of motherwort tea. It is most often used in late stage pregnancy and during labor, however, one must take into account the affect the herb may have on the fetal heart rate. Many women swear by Motherwort tea as a treatment for cramps, bloating and irritibility associated with PMS and hotflashes. It is also used in cases where a woman's cycle is disturbed due to stress.

Motherwort is a relaxant that acts on the smooth muscles and vascular system. It is particularly effective in helping to slow the heartbeat that is revved up due to stress.

Motherwort should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by anyone under treatment for a thyroid condition. It could interfere with thyroid medications. Individuals who take digoxin should not use motherwort as it can intensify the action of the drug causing heart rate to slow down too much for safety. Also, do not take motherwort in conjunction with other herbs that affect the heart such as ginger, hawthorn, mistletoe, ginseng, pleurisy root, and squill. Motherwort has also been reported to interfere with blood clotting and shouldn't be used by those with blood clotting issues.

Motherwort can cause diarrhea and stomach irritation in large doses. Prolonged use may lead to photosensitivity, so if you use motherwort on a regular basis, be sure to cover up and use sunscreen!

Motherwort may cause drowsiness. Do not operate heavy machinery while under the influence of this herb. If you take any drugs that have a side effect of drowsiness, be aware that motherwort will most likely intensify this effect. This includes over the counter drugs such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine and over the counter sleep aids. Caution should also be taken in combining motherwort with sleep inducing herbs such as catnip, hops, kava, St. John's Wort and valerian.

Use 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in 1 cup of boiling water no more than twice per day or up to 1 teaspoon of tincture per day. Motherwort should not be given to young children.

Motherwort tea is very bitter. Sweeten with honey.

Culinary Use:

Young shoots can be cooked like any other green.

Practical Kitchen Witchery:

Serve motherwort tea in moments of family crisis. It helps sooth the physical symptoms of stress (and panic) so that you can focus on solving the problem.

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